Customer Reviews

This American Life: Lies Sissies & Fiascoes

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Even though I had heard most of these stories already on This American Life, I never questioned whether or not to buy this double CD set. These uniquely American tales are timeless and universal in appeal. Even the more esoteric selections -- Scott Carrier's The Test or Dishwasher Pete's Letterman! Cookies! -- are enthralling and entertaining. It's the kind of collection about which one might honestly be able to say that the David Sedaris story is not the best piece, and this is from a person who has laughed outloud in the work bathroom while reading Sedaris' stories. Like many other reviewers, I've found special joy in sharing this CD with my friends and family. I've given it to co-workers as goingaway presents, loaned it to family members who've set out on long drives, played it for in-laws huddled around the fire on Christmas Eve, and recommended it to friends who faced the prospect of hours sitting and waiting to be picked from jury pools. One of the best things to come from this CD is the reminder of just how special the radio show This American Life is, and how lucky we are to be able to listen to the stories that Ira Glass and his staff cull from everyday life and present to us so entertainingly every week. This set is but a taste of the kinds of stories one can listen to every week on NPR. By the way, my favorite stories are Ira's Get Over It! and Jack Hitt's Peter Pan. The first for personal reasons, which I suppose a lot of guys can relate to, and the second because it's just damn funny. Listening to this collection is a little like living small parts of real lives -- every story is so rich, so real. It is This American Life and worth reliving again and again.

Always a big fan of Public Radio, I stumbled across this radio show about 6 months ago. I have since listened to every episode ever since and was delighted to find that I could listen to any episode online.

This CD is filled with an assortment of the best TAL stories out there. The narrators present their own stories, among my favorites include Sarah Vowell's "Guns" and Cheryl Trykv's "Teen Getaway". Some of the stories will defintely cause you to laugh out loud. This is also a CD you will want to listen to over and over.

Ira Glass is truly a genius in my book, as with the rest of the TAL staff and contributors. Storytelling is really a lost art that has won a place in my heart and one that is not easily duplicated in other forms. TAL is truly a unique experience and concept.

If you crave something different and delightful, this CD is a must purchase!

If you have never heard THIS AMERICAN LIFE on N.P.R., this is your easy way to become addicted. The subtitle of this collection of eleven "self-relevatory radio monologues" is "an assortment of favorites, both grotesque & dainty."

What is THIS AMERICAN LIFE? In a nutshell, it is a weekly, hour-long radio show with a different overall theme each week. The hour is divided into acts---each act presenting one main speaker/writer whose subject is somehow connected to this week's theme. The themes? How about "Family Ties," or "Amateurs vs. Professionals," or "Holiday Treasures." You name it...you can be sure THIS AMERICAN LIFE has aired it or will air it soon.

Host Ira Glass has one of the most singular voices ever to narrate a radio show. At the top of the second CD, Glass talks about getting over (NOT getting over?) a doomed love affair. Perfect. You'll find yourself yelling at the radio (or CD) "Stop it. Let her go. Don't be a patsy." It's happened to all of us. And that is the key to THIS AMERICAN LIFE. Every one of the 60 minutes, every week, has happened somehow, some way to ALL of us. And yet, because of the originality and talents of the various writers, it all seems new and incredibly entertaining. "Christmas Freud" where the narrator (David Rakoff) actually sat in a chic clothing story window pretending to be Sigmund Freud for extra holiday money and David Sedaris' "Drama Bug" are two of my favorites. But then, all eleven are worth a listen. Better yet, tune in weekly.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

As a fan of NPR who no longer lives in the US, I jumped all over the chance to buy a best-of compilation of "This American Life". The 2-CD set is split into funny stories on the first disc and serious ones on the second, although I thought both "Hands on a Hard Body" and "Christmas Freud" had some nice funny bits. Also on the second disc are the very chilling pieces "Test" and "Apology Line".

The only segments I did not like in this set, in fact, are the first one on each disc; these happen to be the ones that feature the show's host Ira Glass. I found "Peter Pan" (a piece about a small town drama production that goes awry) to be patronizing and overly long; the remainder of the first disc was very funny. Opening the second disc is "Get Over It!", a segment in which Mr. Glass explores an awkward weekend with an ex-girlfriend for whom he still has feelings. Although it has a good ending, I thought that he was just begging for sympathy with this story, and I felt manipulated. It's admirable in a way that Mr. Glass is willing to showcase his private pain for our entertainment, but not if he's going to make it a pity party.

But otherwise I think the compilation is great and I thank him for creating and hosting the show. I recommend it for anybody who's been a fan of the show (and most of you will probably enjoy Mr. Glass's pieces more than I did).

I have long been a fan of This American Life, and when I went to review this CD at Amazon, I realized that I have owned it since 1999. I have listened to it in bits and pieces several times since then, but just recently did I get a chance to listen to the entire thing from start to finish. For those of you who are looking for some really good listening for a long car trip or perhaps an introspective vacation, you have found the right CD.

Lies, Sissies, and Fiascos is a wonderful blend of sarcasm and sentiment, of tenderness and hilarity. Host Ira Glass's voice is soothing and familiar, and you really can't lose when it comes to anything involving David Sedaris. Sandra Tsung Loh's entry is one that is particularly memorable to me. She tells about how her relationship with her father is enriched when she views him through the most unlikely viewpoint imaginable: that of a local punk rock band, which has idolized her father and thinks of him as some kind of spiritual icon.

I immensely enjoyed listening to this CD, and I will return to it and find the stories familiar, not repetative (as I would with some audio books). Highly recommended.

I absolutely love this collection. This American Life is my favorite radio show, and this 2-disk set has some of its best segments. My favorites include the story the about the failed production of Peter Pan, Ira Glass's story of spending time with his ex-girlfriend as "just friends," and the piece on the Apology Line. The only track I don't really like is Christmas Freud - it's not bad, but I don't really get the point of it, and I generally just skip over it when I'm listening to disk 2.

If you're a fan of This American Life, or if you have an interest in the art of storytelling, pick up Lies, Sissies & Fiascoes - it's more than worth the price.

If you like "This American Life," you can't live without this fabulous cd. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to read and likes to hear about life and humanity. It captures the essence of humanity in its funniest and most painful moments. I can't say enough about how wonderful the cd is.

If you're looking for an opportunity to listen & think or listen & laugh, look no further. I can think of no better way to question your own stamina, persistance, sanity, conscience, sense of ethics, etc., than to listen to the insightfulness in "Hands on a Hard Body", what you would apologize for on the "Apology Line", or how you would do on "The Test". You'll also find yourself shaking your head in comic disbelief at "Peter Pan" and "Dishwasher Pete", and thinking about the quirkiness & comedies of our own families & parents during "Mr Loh", "Shooting Dad" and "Teen Get-Away". It's worth taking the time to listen to several times. My only disappointment was that I couldn't immediately pick up several more "This American Life" collections. This is entertainment, pure & simple!

If you are an avid listener to your local NPR station, then you will be familiar with these programs: "Fresh Air with Terry Gross", "Car Talk", "All Things Considered", etc... What makes this radio show so unique is the variety of topics mentioned. Everyone has a story and Ira Glass brings them to life in his documentary like story-telling.
Among the favorites are the following:

CD #1
"Peter Pan"- funny interview about a children's fairy tale that goes really BAD but in a good way; Ira brings out some good details about drama and how directors try to invent new things like "breaking down the invisible wall"
"Mr. Loh"- hilarious but memorable accounts of embarrassed daughter of her father; wonderful music from band who found inspiration behind such a weird man
"Shooting Dad"- touching thoughts about a father and daughter relationship; how differences can turn out to bring common interests in each other

CD #2
"Get Over It"- Ira finally discuss one thing that we often avoid to the public; it is his private life with his former girlfriend which is pretty deep and thought-provoking

Overall, this is worth it if you absolutely love to be inspired by people's lives. If still have doubts then always checkout the website ... which has all sorts of audio files. Also, check out npr's [website] to find out airtimes of "This American Life" on your local NPR station. Oh, if you buy it from Amazon.com then some of the money goes directly to the program. You might have a hard time tracking it at your local bookstore??? At least, I had to go to Amazon.com in the end.

I have some of these pieces on cassette, received as a premium from my local NPR station. I first listened to the Peter Pan piece on headphones, late at night in a hotel room when my husband and I were on vacation. The lights were out and he was sleeping, and I was listening to this Peter Pan story and laughing so hard I thought I would die. That really uncontrollable laughing that just gets worse when you try to stop. It's a story about a regional theater production of Peter Pan and the fiasco that develops on its opening night production. Hysterical. Also the David Sedaris piece is great and super funny. Don't remember the others but those first two alone are worth the price.